Language of the Absurd.

Before we can discuss the pursuit of liberty, or indeed survival, amongst the wreckage of the Age of Ideologies, it becomes necessary to address one of the more insidious aspects of this era's fallout. Few scholars would deny the power of words to change minds and alter political landscapes; the words of a former painter, soldier and spy named Adolf Hitler unleashed a twelve year nightmare that would engulf all of Europe in war and destroy the lives of countless millions worldwide. In fact, a careful study of human history will reveal that the majority of the deadly ideologies mankind has labored under since the decline of feudalism, began with the stroke of a pen rather than the flash of a muzzle. There is a type of primal magic in language, a direct pathway to our emotional core that can be used by a skilled manipulator to override rational thought. To be fair, this is not always done for insidious purposes; writers and storytellers have been weaving words to entertain us throughout time by using language to create a healthy suspension of disbelief. By appealing directly to our emotions, the writer allows us to "forget" for a time that we are reading a book or watching a film. This disconnect from reality then allows us to respond emotionally to the characters and situations presented as if they were in real; all without having to experience the (often dramatic) situations ourselves. When combined with music and pictures, the effect can be quite hypnotic and if you've ever found yourself "lost" in a book or movie, it becomes easy to identify the phenomenon.

Of course, one writer's harmless bit of fun is another man's instrument of control; countless demagogues, revolutionaries and two-bit dictators have risen to power behind pretty words that demanded violent actions. What is particularly fascinating about these tyrants, is how they almost universally apply language in a manner that is diametrically opposed to it's true meaning. In this way it becomes possible to describe the calculated slaughter of innocents as a "people's revolution" or the violent toppling of a foreign government and installation of a puppet regime as "liberating" it's citizens. When examined rationally, these statements seem ridiculous but when placed in a purely emotional context by a skilled wordsmith, they have successfully spurned the common man into action time and time again. Naturally this phenomenon has not escaped the notice of those who seek power and wealth in the modern era either; the foundation of all modern advertising, political campaigning and indeed, much of our social lives now rests on this principle. You are encouraged to vote, shop, think, love, work and act with your "heart" during almost every waking moment in modern society; your mind is largely irrelevant to those who call you towards action because if you applied rational though you might realize that Taco Bell isn't food, all politicians lie and you don't need a bigger TV just because your neighbors have one.

While a detailed explanation of all the ways in which language is used to bypass logic and elicit emotions in our society would be significantly beyond the scope of this discussion, it is important to note that these techniques are both ubiquitous and highly effective. Of particular importance to us however is the ways in which words are used to represent, define and legitimize vast social concepts, political movements and even warfare. Typically this involves a combination of symbolism, abstraction, metaphor and some outright lying but the ultimate goal is to imbue the object in question with the positive qualities of the words involved. To the right we can see a 2008 campaign poster that seeks to associate the candidate with the concept of "change" despite indicating in no way whatsoever what will change or how it will do so. Naturally an avid follower of the candidate in question could likely list his various proposed policies but this poster is clearly intended to reach a much larger audience. The implication is clear; supporting him means effecting change. Change is dynamic, change is sexy; "who isn't tired of the way things are today?" The genius of this poster is that it allows the viewer to insert their own idea about what will change and the poster confidently assures them that the candidate agrees. Personally, when I saw this ad I assumed he intended to end financial bailouts and years of debilitating war; an idea that seems laughably naive when cast into the glare of recent history. To be clear, the intent here is not to point out the failings of Barack Obama as a president; the simple truth is that poster would have made no more sense with a picture of John McCain and the word 'stability" strewn across the bottom. What matters is that through careful use of a stylized image and one, solitary word the artist has managed to turn a former Illinois senator into a modern American version of Che Guevara.

Once again, the effectiveness of this type of word association is difficult to dispute. For a less political example, one need only consider how many people actively purchase natural foods with little or now knowledge of what the term actually means. The consumer simply accepts the word "natural" to mean some vague association with nature and good health which in turn casts the product in a positive light. I'd don't know about you, by I've certainly never come across a package of dried pasta in nature; I have however, been assured by numerous food companies that their pasta is indeed "all natural". As in the campaign poster above, the primary reason this is effective is because it relies on an emotional appeal rather than a logical one and although it is not technically a lie, it is most certainly dishonest. A more harmful example would be labeling alkaline batteries as "environmentally friendly" or gasoline as "clean" simply because they are less damaging to the environment than previous versions of the same products were. This type of wordplay deceives consumers into believing they are doing a good thing when they purchase these products; the reality is that in both cases the poisoning of our planet continues, in slightly smaller doses.

Until now we've focused on the use of words to lend value to a product (of some kind) and encourage a solitary purchase (of some sort). While these examples have been dishonest and insulting, they represent low grade deceptions with little lasting value. Once you've cast your vote, bought your pasta and filled up the car at a service station, you've long forgotten how these words affected your decisions. When words are used to define and enhance political, religious and social movements however; the effect is both more negative, and more enduring. For a chilling example in our own society one needs to look no further than the proliferation of militias, neo-nazi organizations and violent extremists that drape their various ideologies in the constitutional language of America's founding fathers. White supremacists, hardcore "christian" fundamentalists and fascist political think tanks all proudly proclaim their association with "freedom, liberty and the American way" while simultaneously explaining that these virtues belong only to white Christians. This is not to imply that every person who has conservative views and uses the word "freedom" is a racist shitbag however; and therein lies at least part of the problem. Stretching simple words to convey vast and often reprehensible ideological concepts has a lasting effect on both parties and the relationship is far from symbiotic. In this way these religious, political and social movements virtually "drain" words of their value while obscuring their true or literal meaning in a form of linguistic vampireism. This in turn makes it harder for us communicate ideas using the affected words without accidentally conjuring up the organization who co-opted it. Thus, I can not describe a friend who lives a moral life as "righteous" without also summoning the church. I cannot express my belief in "smaller governments" without implying an association with say, the American Tea Party. Depending on both the speaker and the listener; it is presently possible for a person who hears me say "I support gun control laws" to automatically associate that idea with numerous assumptions about my political affiliations, social background and in extreme cases, loyalty to my country. Perhaps the best example of this can actually be found in the hostile reactions words like freedom, liberty and even democracy produce in parts of the world victimized by western (American) imperialism. The continuing attempts of western leaders to disguise their actions in noble language contrasts starkly with the actions of their armies and anyone using such language will be associated with the invaders rather than the concepts themselves.

To be fair, these examples really are only part of what is essentially a toxic mudslide of disinformation, propaganda, lies, marketing, branding and opinion-crafting that each and every person on Earth is exposed to daily. The assault on our language(s) is vigorous, thorough and unrelenting; it touches every nation and virtually all aspects of our lives. Like so many other words in our time, the term "Orwellian" is often casually tossed around like rice at a wedding. In this case however; the crimes against our language committed daily by politicians, corporations and religious leaders, actually do resemble something out of his dystopian nightmares. The good news is that while it is impossible to live completely unaffected by this poison, it is possible for an observant peasant to protect herself from the predations of those who would seek to deceive her. The key of course lies in using your mind to weigh and evaluate all the information available to you before making an emotional commitment. As previously mentioned; this type of deception relies on your natural inclination to "feel" rather than "think" and therefore, it rarely holds up to direct examination. Rationally you know that war cannot be peace, debt cannot be prosperity and no pair of sneakers can help you "be like Mike." Furthermore, once free of this emotional "black-magic" you might realize that wars drain public wealth, borrowed money must be paid back with interest and those sneakers are covered in the blood and suffering of small children. By this same measure, it is important to take the time to think carefully when you speak. Be clear, concise and honest; avoid twisting your words and seeking to manipulate those around you by soliciting emotional responses. When you share ideas with others, give them the time and space to come to their own conclusions. Try to remember that in real life there is a very significant difference between a "discussion" and an "argument"; discussions are better for the sharing of ideas because nobody has to "win."Above all else however, remember that you have the right to make up you own mind and then grant that right to every single person you meet.

Just one more question folks: "what's so funny about peace, love and understanding?"

- Savannah Nix